How To Get Photo Ready

We're thrilled to have another guest post from our Associate Beauty Editor Melanie Rud Chadwick, who is sharing the best tips for looking your best in a photograph. We've used a beautiful photograph of our own lovely product analyst Emily Weinberger (on the right in the photograph) as a great example.

Along with beach days and barbecues, there's another inevitable part of summer-pictures. And whether it's a wedding or the annual family road trip, your photo will undoubtedly be snapped over and over...and simultaneously posted on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter...

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So what can you do to look camera-ready? Here, some of my favorite tricks, plus expert advice from my good friend, celebrity makeup artist Neil Scibelli. Try these tips and you won't even need that Instagram filter.

1. Tamp down shine.

Rising temps and humidity levels can make skin start to gleam (and not in a good way). To keep your look dewy, not greasy, focus on eliminating shine just along your T-Zone, says Scibelli. A quick dusting of a translucent powder, like Jouer Mattifying Translucent Powder ($30, jouercosmetics.com),across your forehead, down your nose, and on your chin does wonders.

2. Create an optical illusion.

If your skin is less than perfect, there's a cool new category of skin perfectors on the market that use ingredients like silica and microprisms to help diffuse light and "blur-out" imperfections, making skin look totally smooth. And, unlike primer, which is meant to go on under makeup, this can be dabbed over makeup pre-photo opp. One to try: L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Miracle Blur Oil-Free ($25, drugstores).

3. Make eyes pop.

"To make your eyes appear bigger in photos, try lining your lower lids along the outer rim, closest to lashes. Avoid lining the inner rims, which closes in the eye shape," suggests Scibelli. If you have fair skin, stick with softer colors like chocolate or navy; medium to darker skin tones can use charcoal or black. His pick: Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes ($19, Sephora.com).

4. Beware of bronzer.

While a faux glow is great, avoid shimmery bronzers when you're going to be in front of the camera. "A camera's flash will pick up all of the light reflecting pigments in the shimmer-which will make it seem like your entire face is shiny," says Scibelli. A matte version, like Tarte Cosmetics Smooth Operator in Bronze ($29, Ulta), delivers color without the unwanted sheen.

5. It's all about the angle.

Pictures taken from below flatter no one (trust me, I learned this very important lesson from experience). Ask your photog to aim straight on, or even better, a bit from above. This is especially important when you're taking a selfie-it's the easiest way to avoid that dreaded double chin!